Cutter loader mining machines



Nov. 29, 1960 J. ANDERTON CUTTER LOADER MINING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 22, 1954 J. ANDERTON CUTTER LOADER MINING MACHINES Nov. 29, 1960 Filed 001'.. 22, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1960 J. AN-Dl-:RTON

CUTTER LOADER MINING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5- Filed 001'.. 22, 1954 FIG. 7.

Nov. 29, 1960 J. ANDERTON 2,962,271

CUTTER LOADER MINING MACHINES Filed oct. 22, 1 54 9 R 55 FIG'IOL Sheets Sheet 4 [NVE/V70@ James /HC/EFTON niteci States Patent ()Y i `CUTTER LOADER MINING MACHINES James Anderton, Clock Face, St. Helens, England, assignor to Coal Industry (Patents) Limited, London,

England Filed Oct. 22, 1954, Ser. No. 464,026

Claims priority, application Great Britain Oct. 26, 1953 4 Claims. (Cl. 262-8) This invention relates to a cutter loader mining machine adapted to travel over an armoured conveyor extending along a long-wall coal face.

It will be understood that the machine is applicable to the mining of minerals other than coal and that the word coal as used herein may be appropriately construed to include such other minerals.

According to the invention a cutter loader machine adapted to travel over an armoured conveyor comprises a cutter unit in the form of a drum or an assembly of axially spaced shearing discs carrying cutter picks arranged to icut in a vertical plane upon rotation of the drum or discs and arranged to cut at door level alongside said conveyor.

Preferably the machine further comprises a deflector member behind the cutter unit and arranged to deect coal cut by said unit on to the conveyor. Preferably also the machine comprises a plough member behind said defiector member and arranged to plough loose cut coal on to the conveyor when the machine is ilitted back in the direction opposite to the direction of travel when cutting.

The deector and plough members may constitute a separate plough-deflector unit which may comprise an upper deflector surface, a lowA deector surface adjacent and to the rear of said top de; vffor surface, and a plough surface adjacent and to the 'fr of said rear deector surface and reaching to floorv y ai.

The machine may further comprise means whereby the height of the cutter ur nove the floor can be adjustably fixed.

Further features of the ixfention appear from the following vdescription vand the accompanying drawings and are set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings a machine according to the 4invention is illustrated by way of example,

`Figure 1 being a partly diagrammatic side elevation of the'machine at a coal face,

Figure v2 aplan corresponding to Figure 1,

Figure 3 an end elevation in the direction of the varrow IIIeof Figure l,

Figure 4 a partly diagrammatic side elevation to a larger scale `of parts of themachine,

Figure 5 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 4,

Figure 6 an end view .of the plough corresponding to Figure 4,

Figure 7a side elevation of a rope guide bracket,

Figure 8 a plan corresponding to Figure 7,

Figure 9 van end elevation corresponding to Figure 7,

Figure -10 a side elevation of an alternative arrangement -of mounting .the rdisc cutters and Figure 1l a perspective vview of a detail with the discs omitted, and

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of a curved buffer and its associated parts.

The machine illustrated comprises an under frame 10 adapted to move `to-and-fro on the side members S of an armoured conveyor which Vis shown in Figures 1 to 3 as restingon'the oor Fin a coal mine close to a coal face C which extends up to the roof R. On the under-frame 10 is mounted a haulage unit 11 and a motor unit 12 to 2,962,271 Patented Nov. 29, 1960 which is connected a gear head 13. From the gear head 13 there extends a shaft 14 which carries a plurality of cutter discs of which only the pick-lines 15 are shown, and these cutter discs cut down to the level of the door F. These discs may be of known construction, with adjustable and replaceable picks secured to their peripheries.

- The shaft 14, as can be seen from Figures 2 and `5, is at The machine, when cutting, travels inthe directionV shown by the arrows D. In front of the under-frame 10 is arranged a conventional cable carrier 17 which is connected by a link 18 to the under frame.

A plough and deflector unit 19 is secured to the underframe 10 by means which are shown clearly in-Figures 4 and 5 and comprise a bracket 20 secured to the underframe 10, a forked link element 21, a forked bracket 23 on the plough-deector unit 19, and an adjusting link 22 which is drilled at various points and can be adjustably pinned to the elements 21, 23 to permit alteration of the spacing between the latter elements and thereby alteration of the spacing between the curved edge of the ploughdeflector unit 19 and the pick lines 15 of the cutter discs thus permitting variation in the delivery of coal on to the plough-deflector unit. This linkage arrangement alsoy permits slight vertical `movement to allow for oor undulations. A guide angle 24 is secured to the link element 21 and is guided when necessaryV by the side member s of the conveyer.

The plough and deflector unit is bollow, being preferably fabricated of suitable sheet metal, and it is so shaped as to present a curved front surface 25 to the cutter discs, a top defiector surface 26 which deflects falling coal on to the conveyor, a rear deector surface 27, and a plough surface 28. When the machine is flitting in the direction opposite to that of the arrows D, the plough surface 28 lifts loose coal from the floor and this coal is deected on to the conveyor by the surface 27. The plough and deector unit has a rear skid 29 and a front s-kid 30 Vto ride above the side member S of the conveyor, and a rear floor skid 31 and a front floor skid 32 which ride on the Viloor F as the machine travels to-and-fro.

As can `be seen from Figures 4 to 6, the plough and deector unit is provided with internal Vstrengthening members 34 which are welded in position. A curved buffer 35 projects towards the coal face from near the bottom of the `plough and deector unit, and this buffer is secured by means of two spindles 36 which are screwed and welded to the buffer 35 and extend movably through apertures in some of the internal strengthening members 34, Compression springs 37 surround the spindles 36 and act so, that the buffer 35 engages the coal face C as shown in Figures 6 and l2. The springs are prevented from pushing the spindles 36 too far out by means of washers 38 and transverse pins 39 provided on the spindles. In lthe face of the plough and deflector unit which is towards the coal face, there is provided a recessed door 40 which has a handle 41. Several small apertures 42 are provided in the plough and detlector unit, and in the interior of this unit are hoses shown in broken lines in Figure l1 through Whi'h water is forced through these small apertures 42 so that it reduces the formation of dust and sparks by the cutter discs. Welded to the upper part of the plough and deflector unit is an anchorage 33; when the plough reaches the stable at either end of the coal face, a chain is fastened to this anchorage 33 at one end and at the other end to the haulage rope, thus preventing the plough and deector unit from leaving-the side member S of the conveyor.

The direction of rotation of the cutter discs is shown by the arrows A. The armoured conveyor moves the coal in the direction opposite to that in which the machine travels when cutting as shown by the arrows D.

Tothe gear head 13is secured a rope guide bracket which has a top plate 43, the position in which it is securedbeing shown in Figures 1 to 3. The construction ofthis bracket is more clearly shown in Figures 7 to 9; welded to the top plate 43 is a length of angle 44 which is reinforced by strengthening ribs 45. Between the top plate 43 and the angle 44 are arranged two rollers 46 and 47 Yon spindles 48 in which are oilways 49 of which the upper ends are normally closed by means of screw plugs or nipples. The upper ends of the spindles 48 are provided with two flat surfaces to abut against blocks 50 welded to the plate 43, and pins 51 are provided in the lower` ends of the spindles to retain the latter in place. The haulage rope H passes on the inside of the roller 46 and the outside of the roller 47, as can be seen from Figures 2 and 8. This obviates the risk of the machine tilting over into the coal face under tractive etort which may be exerted by the cutter discs.

The height of the machine above the floor may be made adjustable by providing supports or girders of different depths on the conveyor thus permitting the diameter of the drum or discs to be altered to suit different seam conditions.

In an alternative construction for varying the height of the cutter unit and diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10, the cutter discs 15 are rotatably mounted on a common jib 52, which is pivoted about a shaft 61 at one end for angular movement in a vertical plane and is arranged to be held fixed at any desired angle. In this construction the disc cutters 15 are driven through a chain 53 engaging driving sprocket wheels 54 and 55. The driving sprocket wheel 54 is driven through suitable gearing by the motor 12.

Preferably the cutter discs 15 are sprayed with water and a convenient apparatus for achieving this is shown in Figure 11.

Water from a main pipe is conveyed through a flexible pipe S6 to a pipe 57 mounted in the detlector feeding a number of branch pipes 58 ending in apertures or nozzles 59 arranged along the upper edge of the deector. The exible pipe 56 is shielded by a guard plate 60 mounted on the frame of the machine.

The machine illustrated is for right-hand cutting, that is to say it cuts when travelling from left to right in the direction of the arrows D of Figures 1 and 2. Obviously for cutting when travelling in the opposite direction it is necessary to construct a machine of opposite hand. The gear box may itself be handed or may be arranged to be turned round.

As illustrated the machine is suitable for use at coal faces where the coal falls from the roof after it has been under-cut by tbe disc cutters. For use at faces where the coal does not fall naturally, the machine may be provided with a cutter jib or cutter bar or other cutter means (mounted on a turret if desired) or other known means for causing the coal to fall after it has been under-cut.

As an alternative to the spring buffer 35 between the plough-dellector unit and the face, the buffer can be arranged on the conveyor side of the deflector, between this unit and the conveyor to exert a push on the unit towards the face.

It will be appreciated that the machine according to the invention offers the important advantage that the disc cutters cut down to tloor level and that the plough during flitting clears the floor between the conveyor and the face so that there is no need for manual Work in this area where the danger of roof falls is greatest.

By the term cutter discs is meant a number of discs each having peripherally as mounted picks or a drum having picks mounted on its cylindrical surface. In one advantageous construction the picks are arranged in a helical formation on the drums cylindrical surface.

I claim:

1. A cutter-loader mining machine having a travelling frame adapted to travel over a lloor mounted conveyor; a rotary cutter unit of circular section operatively carried by said frame for cutting in a substantially vertical plane over substantially the whole height of the machine and down to floor level beside said frame; and a non-powered plough-deliector loader unit spaced from and adjustably linked to the frame for travel with said frame, said loader unit comprising a static deflector plate located immedately to the rear of said cutter unit and having a downwardly inclined dellector surface adapted to deflect falling material on to the conveyor during forward movement of the machine, a curved front surface integral with said deflector plate and disposed adjacent the rear portion of said cutter unit, a rear detiector plate adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said static deilector plate, and a static plough plate reaching to floor level and ntegral with and located immediately to the rear of said rear deflector plate and adapted to transfer fallen material from the floor on to the conveyor upon the return movement of the machine, and means for adjusting the spacing between the curved front surface and the curved rear portion of the cutter unit.

2.` A cutter-loader mining machine having a travelling frame adapted to travel over a floor mounted conveyor; a rotary cutter unit of circular section operatively carried by said frame for cutting in a substantially vertical plane over substantially the whole height of the machine and down to oor level beside said frame; and a non-powered plough-deflector loader unit spaced from and linked to said frame for travel therewith, said loader unit com prising a static deflector plate located immediately to the rear of said cutter unit and having a downwardly inclined deflector surface adapted to deflect falling material on to the conveyor during forward movement of the machine, a lower rear dellector plate adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said static deector plate, and a static plough plate reaching to oor level and integral with and located immediately to the rear of said lower rear deector plate and adapted to transfer fallen material from the floor on to the conveyorupon the return movement of the machine, the static deflector plate having a curved front surface disposed adjacent to and following generally the curvature of the rear part of the said rotary cutter unit, and means for adjusting the spacing between the curved front surface and the curved rear portion of the cutter unit.

3. A cutter-loader mining machine having a travelling frame adapted totravel over a oor mounted conveyor; a rotary cutter unit of circular section operatively carried by said frame for cutting in a substantially vertical plane oversubstantially the whole height of the machine and down to floor level beside said frame; and a nonpowered plough-deectoriloader unit spaced from and adjustably linked to said frame for travel therewith, said loader unit comprising a static defiector plate located immediately to the rear of said cutter unit and having a downwardly inclined deflector surface adapted to deect falling `material on the conveyor during forward movement of the machine, a rear deector plate adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said static deliector plate, and a static plough plate reaching to floor level `and integral with and located immediately to the rear of said rear deflector plate and adapted to transfer fallen material from the floor on to the conveyor upon the return movement of the machine, the deilector plate having a curved front surface disposed adjacent to and following generally the curvature of the rear part of the said rotary cutter unit, and said rear defiector plate having a lower rear deector surface adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said downwardly inclined deector surface, the said plough plate having a surface adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said lower rear deector surface, and adjusting means between said frame and said cutter unit to adjust the spacing between said curved front surface and the curved rear portion of the cutter unit.

4. A cutter-loader mining machine having a travelling frame adapted to travel over a door mounted conveyor; a rotary cutter unit of circular section operatively carried by said frame for cutting in a substantially vertical plane over substantially the whole height of the machine and down to Hoor level beside said frame; a non-powered plough-deflector loader unit separate from the frame and linked thereto for travel with said frame, said unit comprising a static deilector plate located immediately to the rear of said cutter unit and having a downwardly inclined deector surface adapted to deect falling material on to the conveyor during forward movement of the machine, a rear deector plate adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said static decctor plate, and a static plough plate reaching to lloor level and integral with and located immediately to the rear of said rear deector plate and adapted to transfer fallen material from the floor on to the conveyor upon the return movement of the machine, the static deflector plate having a curved front surface disposed adjacent to and following generally the curvature of the rear part of the said rotary cutter unit, and

said rear dcector plate having a lower rear deector surface adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said downwardly inclined deector surface, the said plough plate having a surface adjacent to and disposed at the rear of said lower rear deector surface; and means for adjusting the spacing between the curved front surface of the dellector plate and the curved rear part of the rotary cutter unit, said means being also adapted to permit limited vertical movement of the plough-deiector unit.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE F CQRBECTION- Patent No. 2,962,271I y lNevemleee 29, 1%@

I James Anderton '11; ie hereby certified that er1-er appears in the above numbered peeent requiring correction and 'that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below. V-

Column 2 line 35, for "bollowv'v read e hollow -ecolumn 3, line 45, for Jehe reference numeral 58M read m 59 line 46, `for the reference numeral "'59" read 58 line 75, strike ont "as".

Signed and sealed I@his 5th day of September 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER v DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOM M-DC 

